Self-gripping hair curler



United N States Patent O SELF- GRIPPING HAIR CURLER William E. Thackeray, South Ogden, Utah, assiguor to Norman F. Agricola, Ogden, Utah Filed Dec. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 329,104 8 Claims. (Cl. 132-40) This invention relates to hair curlers, and more particularly to roller type curlers that do not require separate pins, clips, combs, or the like to insure a tight gripping of the hair while it is obtaining a desired set.

At the present time beauty shops, as well as many individuals, .frequently use hair curlers consisting of smooth plastic or metal roller tubes in combination with separate gripping pins or clips. These curlers, while generally insuring a satisfactory curl if properly used, are :difficult to use, especially for persons attempting to do their own hair. The hair must be smoothed around the tube as it is rolled on, rand both hands are required to hold the hair and roller in position while the gripping device is attached. Furthermore, because of their small size, the clips, pins, or other Vgripping device are often,

lost, thus necessitating replacement of the entire curler, or at least of the gripping pins or clips.

Other popular hair curlers are made of rubber, Wood, metallic mesh, or various other materials, and some of them have attached clamping devices for holding the hair in place. These have proven difcult to use, do not give a smooth set to the hair, and generally do not grip as firmly as is desired.

It is a principal object of the present inventionto provide a hair curler wherein smooth roller tubes are provided with attached gripping means to securely clamp hair in place around them and wherein the gripping means is easily operated with the thumb and one finger of one hand.

Outstanding features of the invention include a smooth roller tube having a plurality of gripping means of toothlike configuration protruding therethrough and actuator means for moving the gripping means between an open position wherein they extend outwardly from the roller tube and a closed position wherein they are securely locked against the outside of the roller tube.

There is shown in the accompanying drawing a specific embodiment of the invention representing what is presently regarded as the mode 'of carrying out the generic concepts in actual practice. From the detailed description of this presently preferred form of the invention, other more specific objects and features will become apparent.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a hair curler of the invention with the gripping means shown in open position;

FIG. 2, an end elevation, with the gripping means in open position;

FIG. 3, a side elevation, with the gripping means in closed or clamping position;

FIG. 4, an end elevation with the gripping means in clamping position;

FIG. 5, a central longitudinal section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6, a section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7, a section taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawing:

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the curler, shown generally at V10, includes a smooth tube 11 preferably =made of plastic or metal, an actuator block 12, and a plurality of hair grippers 13 constructed of a material such as plastic having some degree of resiliency.

Tube 11 has a plurality of rows of holes 14 therethrough, and the hair grippers, of generally tooth-like ICC configuration, are placed in as many of the holes as desired. It has been found that hair grippers in tworrows of holes give suiiicient holding action topsatisfy most users and that the other `rows need not always -be filled. If, however, extra holding strength is desired, additional hair grippers can readily be placed in any of the remaining holes. Furthermore, the spacing between holes in the rows can be varied as desired.

Each hair gripper, shown generally at 13, has a base portion 15 larger than the holes 14, and a contoured clamp portion 16, adapted to extend through the holes. A bend 17 is formed in ythe clamp portion 16 of each hair gripper adjacent its respective base 15, so that when it is in one over-center position its clamp portion will extend outwardly and substantially normal tothe tube, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6. In the other overoenter position the clamping portions rest rmly against the side of the roller tube, as seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7.

The over-center movement of the hair grippers occurs when actuator block 12 is moved axially within tube 11, and the bases 15 of lthe hair grippers 13 are moved to either side of a center position normal to the common axis of the actuator and tube. Y

Shoulders 19 :formed between clamp portions 16 vand base portions 15 of the hair grippers abut the inner wall of the roller tube adjacent holes 14 through which the clamp portions extend, and act as pivots for the hair grippers. The bottom edges of the bases are positioned `in grooves 20 formed in actuator 12, yand the depth of a snap movement of the hair grippers from one position t-o the other and a locking of the hair grippers in position.

When the clamp portions of the hair grippers are extended, as shown in FIGS. l and 5, the actuator is prevented from moving to the right by the abutment of the groove walls with the base portions 15, and the abutment of the clamp portions 16 with the peripheries of holes 14. Undesired movement of the actuator to the left is prevented since extra force must be applied to move the base portions past their center position.

Similarly, when the hair grippers are in the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, movement of the actuator to the left is prevented by the abutting relationship of the walls of grooves 20 with the base portions 15 and of the shoulders 19 with the inner wall of the roller tube. Undesired movement to the right is then prevented by resistance of the base portions to movement past their center position. Y

The actuator -block 12 is formed to slidably fit within roller tube 11 and, in the form illustrated, has a plurality of hat sides forming chords across a portion of the inner circumference of the roller tube. To reduce the weight and cost of the curler, the actuator block is preferably hollow and is made of plastic. One at surface, extending the length of the actuator block, is provided for each row of gripping means used. As illustrated, for example, two rows of hair grippers are used, and at sides 21 and 22 insure adequate clearance between the actuator 12 and tube 11 for placement of base portions 15 of hair grippers 13 therebetween. If it is desired to reduce the clearance between the block and the tube, in order to reduce the size bases required, for example, this can be done -by beveling the edges of the actuator block as at 12a, and utilizing a large block. Obviously, a round block attened and grooved only where there are hair grippers,

or having larger and deeper V-grooves to receive base portions, could be used to achieve the same purpose as those illustrated.

When the actuator block is moved to the position shown in FIGURES '1, 2, Sand 7, the hair grippers 13 are kpivoted about their shoulders 21, moving ,clamp portions 16 until they extend substantially normal to the-tube. While the hair grippers are in this position, they can be used in com-b fashion and hair is easily rolled around` the curlers.V

Movement of actuator block 12 to the position of FIGS.. 3, 4 and 6 causes the hairl grippers 13 to pivot about their shoulders 21, and the clamp portions -16, because of their configuration, to lie against the outer surface of the tube, or against hair rolled around the tube, to hold it securely in place. The contoured shape of the clamping portions insures a better gripping action than is achieved with a straight extension.`

Grooves 20 are preferably V-shaped to insure seating of base portions 15 therein, but it should be apparent that in some instances rounded grooves or grooves of other shapes could be employed. It is necessary, however, that the bottom edges of the base portions be engaged for movement Ivin'th the actuator and that the groove allow sufficient freedom of movement for the hair grippers to pivot between its two locked positions.

In operation, the use-r rolls her hair around the tube in the conventional manner land then grasps the curler between thumb and linger of one hand. While holding the roller tube 11 at one end with the thumb, for example, the actuator is pushed into the tube at the opposite end, thereby moving the base portions over-center to lock the hairgrippers in position. Obviously, if desired, the actuator could be provided with extensions protruding from one or both ends of the roller. These would serve as means for shifting the actuator by either pulling or pushing thereon.

The distance between the roller tube Vinner wall and the bottoms of the grooves in the actuator block and the size of the base portions, together with the amount of resiliency of the base portions of the gripping means, determines the amount of kforce needed to shift the actuator sufficiently to move the hair grippers overcenter. This force desirably is suicient to prevent inadvertent opening of the hair grippers but not so great as to make opening by movement of the actuator block dicult for the user. f

Whereas there is here illustrated and specifically described a certain preferred construction of apparatus Whichfis presently regarded as the best mode of carrying yout the invention,rit should be understood that various changes may be made and other constructions adopted without departing from the inventive subject matter particularly pointed out and claimed herebelow.

Iclaim:

1. A hair curler, comprisingV a roller tube; .gripping means at all times extending through the wall of said Y roller tube; actuator means` in engagement with said gripping means; and cooperative locking means on said tube and said gripping means whereby reciprocation of said actuator means between first and second extreme positions through said tube moves said gripping means between a first positive locked position protruding from the tube and a second positive locked position lying substantially at against the outer surface of said tube.

2. A hair curler as in claim V1, wherein the gripping means comprises hair grippers including clamp portions protruding from the tube and base. portions within said tube, said clamp portions forming an angle with respect to said base portions and wherein the cooperative locking means comprises pivot surfaces on the base portions and the inner wall of the tube, said pivot surfaces engaging said inner wall to hold the hair grippers in locked positions.

3. A hair curler as in claim 2, `wherein the'actuator means extends within the roller tube and engages the base portions of the hair grippers.

4. A hai-r curler as in claim 2, wherein'the actuator means includes an elongate member having grooves therein; the bottom edges of the base portions ofthe hair grippers being positioned in said grooves.

5. A hair curler as in claim 4, wherein the'lpivot surfaces comprise shoulders. formed on the base portions adjacent the clamp portions of the hair grippers, and wherein said shoulders cooperates with the inner wall of said r-oller tube to provide cooperating pivot surfaces-` for thehair grippers.

6. A yhair curler comprising a roller tube having spaced holes throughk the wal-l thereof; hair grippers including clamp portions extending through said holes and baseV portions within said roller tube, said base portions and said .clamp :portions defining an angle therebetween; ay

shoulder formed on each of said base portions adjacent the intersection of said clamp and base portions, said Vshoulders abutting the innerY wall of said roller tube; an

actuator Vblock extending within said roller tube; means on said actuator block engaging said base portions, whereby movement of said actuator block along the axis of the roller tube will pivot said hair grippers about the shoulders thereof between a rst locked position wherein saidclamp portions extend outwardly from said roller tube and a second locked position wherein saidV clamp portions lie against the outer wall `of the roller tube.

7. A'hair curler, comprising a roller tube; at least one hair gripper including a clamp portion1protruding through the wall lof the tube, and a base portion within said tube, said base portion including pivot surfaces engaging the inside ywall of the tube; and actuator means including an elongate memberhaving at least one groove,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 909,902 1/1909 Hunter 132-51X` 2,174,479 9/ 1939 Quady 132-40 2,444,519 7/ 1948 Linder 132-46 3,205,901 9/ 1965 Moore 132`40 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. R. L. FRINKS, Assistant Examiner.` 

1. A HAIR CURLER, COMPRISING A ROLLER TUBE; GRIPPING MEANS AT ALL TIMES EXTENDING THROUGH THE WALL OF SAID ROLLER TUBE; ACTUATOR MEANS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GRIPPING MEANS; AND COOPERATIVE LOCKING MEANS ON SAID TUBE AND SAID GRIPPING MEANS WHEREBY RECIPROCATION OF SAID ACTUATOR MEANS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND EXTREME POSITIONS THROUGH SAID TUBE MOVES SAID GRIPPING MEANS BETWEEN A FIRST POSITIVE LOCKED POSITION PROTRUDING FROM 